The Deaf People Association (Malta) (DPAM) is planning to organise a training course that will be targeted at deaf people between the ages of 20 and 35, who are actively involved in deaf youth groups or associations. It will focus on the rights of young deaf persons in Europe, on the obstacles that prevent these persons from asserting their rights and on ways in which they can ensure that these rights are respected.
The trainers delivering the course, some of whom are deaf persons themselves, will act as facilitators to enable the participants to discuss these issues together and to arrive at solutions that suit their particular circumstances.
Persons with disability may need assistance in acquiring and developing the necessary skills that will enable them to assert their rights. This is one of the reasons why more directed training should be provided in order to address such needs. The methods used in the group discussions and the workshops will entail the active participation of the participants themselves who will thus be enabled to explore and develop their ideas about disability in general, and deafness in particular, and to find practical ways they can use in their work to promote the rights of young deaf persons. During the course, there will also be meetings with key decision-makers in the areas of disability and youth policies and a look at the life of young deaf people in Malta!
In addition, the participants will have the opportunity to take part in diverse social and recreational activities that will aid them in putting into practice what they would have learnt during the training course sessions.
The six-day course that will be held in September will be conducted in British and Maltese sign language, while English will be the spoken language used. Therefore, it is crucial that the sign language interpreters are capable of speaking and understanding English and can translate it into the destined sign language. The DPAM will be seeking funds from the European Union Youth Programme. Such funds will be expected to cover full-board accommodation in Malta, training fees, course material and up to 70% of the travel expenses incurred by the participants and sign languages interpreters. Thus, the organisations that will be participating in this training course will have to pay for the remaining 30% of the travel costs. Each organisation will be allowed to bring one interpreter. A small participation fee may be required if the funding by the EU does not cover all the above expenses.
However, this will be avoided as far as possible.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Ms Anne-Marie Callus on the following email address: [email protected] or by telephone number 2148-7789, text telephone 2144-6536 or fax number 2148-4609 by 1 March.